The oddsmakers have spoken...and it's a mixed message when it comes to the Lions

January 06, 2012

The NFL is a bettor's dream. Why else would it be the most popular of the 4 major US sports?

But what got me to thinking about betting and the Lions' playoff chances in the eyes of those who make money on games were the following odds, as seen in today's Freep.

Here are the full odds from Cantor Gaming:

Packers are favorite 9-5

Patriots 7-2

Saints: 9-2

Ravens: 6-1

Steelers 10-1

49ers 12-1

Giants: 20-1

Falcons: 50-1

Texans: 60-1

Lions: 80-1

Bengals: 80-1

Broncos: 120-1

80-1? Really? Seems awfully high.

Looking aorund, I've seen the Lions' Super Bowl odd at anywhere from 40-1 to 75-1. I'd bet a few Benjamins...well, more like a few Jacksons at those long numbers. (I'm not single any more, and the teen needs tires on his car)

So what about the wild card game against the Saints? From poking aorund the bowels of the internet and offshore sportsbooks, this screencap from BetUs shows the betting line status quo:

Betus
Depending on where you go and the money being bet at a certain time, the Lions are getting anywhere from 10.5 to 11 points, with the over/under hovering around 59. For a playoff game, even one with the long downtrodden Lions, 10.5 points is an awfully big spread. The over/under seems right on the money, however.

For all the talk of the first meeting between the Lions and Saints being a blowout, it wasn't. The Lions were only down one score midway through the 4th quarter. They did more to lose the game than the Saints did to win it. And by saying the Lions did more to lose the game, I mean they emotionally imploded in a big, stupid way. I don't see that happening again...knock on wood.

So what would I do if I were standing in a Vegas sports book Saturday afternoon with a wad of big bills in my sweaty hands?

The Lions are as healthy as they've been in weeks, and the Stafford to Megatron connection is rolling. Considering both Stafford and Brees are likely to throw for close to 400 yards and multiple touchdowns, and both teams can be defensively challenged...I'd bite the bullet, and take the Lions to cover and definitely the over....if I were still a betting man, that is.

The 12 year old has his karate lessons, after all...